Texas Tech’s struggling defense will come under fire today

Baylor’s offense has started to click, with quarterback Robert Griffin running a wide-open show. In the face of the impending challenge, first-year Tech coach Tommy Tuberville says he hasn’t lost faith in his players.

“Obviously, (defense) is not a strength of ours right now; it hadn’t been a strength in the past,” Tuberville said in the wake of last week’s 52-38 loss at Iowa State. “But we’re going to try to make it better – with the players we’ve got. We’re not looking forward to next year. We want it to be done now.”

As in, this morning at the Cotton Bowl.

“I want these guys to have a chance to win some games,” Tuberville said. “If they keep working like they’re working, I think they will.”

That being said, here’s a look at today’s Big 12 slate:

Baylor (4-1, 1-0) vs. Texas Tech (2-2, 0-2), 11 a.m., FSN

Both the Bears and Red Raiders faced some adversity this week. Baylor receiver Josh Gordon, who scored two TDs last week in the 55-7 victory over Kansas, was one of two players charged earlier this week with misdemeanor possession of marijuana. No word yet on whether Gordon will be allowed to play today. Tech defensive end Scott Smith, who has three sacks, has been suspended indefinitely.

(11) Arkansas (3-1) vs. Texas A&M (3-1), 2:30 p.m., ABC

Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett, a transfer from Michigan, will try to shake off the emotions from a heart-wrenching SEC loss to No. 1 Alabama two weeks ago. In that game he played well but threw a couple of costly fourth-quarter interceptions. A&M’s Jerrod Johnson knows the feeling. Johnson threw for 5 TDs and 4 interceptions in the Aggies’ last-second, 38-35 Big 12-opening loss at Oklahoma State on Sept. 30.

(10) Utah (4-0) at Iowa State (3-2), 6 p.m.

This could be the most interesting game of the day in the Big 12. Utah, a BCS buster from the Mountain West, will try to stay in the conversation for one of the major bowl games. The Utes’ schedule has been suspect, with their only victory coming on opening day against then No. 15 Pittsburgh. The Cyclones played their best game of the season last week in torching the Texas Tech Red Raiders 52-38.

Colorado (3-1, 0-0) at Missouri (4-0, 0-0), 6 p.m., FSN

Twenty years ago, Colorado beat Missouri in the infamous “fifth-down” game that helped propel the Buffaloes to the national title. More recently, the story in this series has been Missouri’s dominance. The Tigers have won four in a row off the Buffaloes. Missouri, playing some pretty decent defense, cracked the AP Top 25 this week at No. 24. Colorado comes in with momentum after a home victory over Georgia.